FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana’s NewsCenter) – On Monday, John Walsh and his production team from the television show America’s Most Wanted were in Fort Wayne to tape a segment on the April Tinsley murder case, which airs Friday night.

Monday, Fort Wayne police and Walsh introduced a piece of evidence, never seen by the public, to try to spur more tips in the 1988 murder of then 8-year-old April Tinsley. Tinsley, of Fort Wayne, was walking from a friend’s house when she was randomly picked up, molested and murdered. Her body was found in DeKalb County three days later.

That piece of evidence, left at the scene of the crime, is hand-crank sex toy, a dildo, and police hope introducing it to the public will jog some memories in the area.

Walsh, whose show has led to the apprehension of nearly 1,200 fugitives, says Fort Wayne police and America’s Most Wanted are one tip away from solving this 24-year-old crime. Walsh says it is time for the witnesses to this crime to stop fearing law enforcement and come forward with the information they might have.

“I say to people, ‘You can remain anonymous. Call me. Go to my website. We'll turn over the tips. You don't have to give us your name. If you're afraid of retribution, if you're afraid that you're gonna get dragged into the case, don't be afraid. Give us the tip.’ Somebody knows who this creep is.”

America’s Most Wanted airs on the Lifetime channel at 9 p.m.

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